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Generalized Non-Convulsive Epilepsy: Focus on GABA-B Receptors pp 37–69Cite as

Genetic absence epilepsy in rats from Strasbourg — A review

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Part of the Journal of Neural Transmission book series (NEURAL SUPPL,volume 35)

Summary

We have selected a strain of rats and designated it the Genetic Absence Epilepsy Rat from Strasbourg (GAERS). In this strain, 100% of the animals present recurrent generalized non-convulsive seizures characterized by bilateral and synchronous spike-and-wave discharges accompanied with behavioural arrest, staring and sometimes twitching of the vibrissae. Spontaneous SWD (7–11 cps, 300–1,000 µV, 0.5–75 sec) start and end abruptly on a normal background EEG. They usually occur at a mean frequency of 1.5 per min when the animals are in a state of quiet wakefulness. Drugs effective against absence seizures in humans (ethosuccimide, trimethadione, valproate, benzodiazepines) suppress the SWD dose-dependently, whereas drugs specific for convulsive or focal seizures (carbamazepine, phenytoin) are ineffective. SWD are increased by epileptogenic drugs inducing petit mal-like seizures, such as pentylenetetrazol, gamma-hydroxybutyrate, THIP and penicillin.

Depth EEG recordings and lesion experiments show that SWD in GAERs depend on cortical and thalamic structures with a possible rhythmic triggering by the lateral thalamus. Most neurotransmitters are involved in the control of SWD (dopamine, noradrenaline, NMDA, acetylcholine), but GABA and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) seem to play a critical role. SWD are genetically determined with an autosomal dominant inheritance. The variable expression of SWD in offsprings from GAERS × control reciprocal crosses may be due to the existence of multiple genes.

Neurophysiological, behavioural, pharmacological and genetic studies demonstrate that spontaneous SWD in GAERS fulfil all the requirements for an experimental model of absence epilepsy. As the mechanisms underlying absence epilepsy in humans are still unknown, the analysis of the genetic thalamocortical dysfunction in GAERS may be fruitful in investigations of the pathogenesis of generalized non-convulsive seizures.

Keywords

  • GABAB Receptor
  • Absence Seizure
  • Absence Epilepsy
  • Convulsive Seizure
  • Wave Discharge

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Neurologie I, C.H.U., Strasbourg, France

    Dr. C. Marescaux

  2. Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie et Biologie des Comportements, Centre de Neurochimie, C.N.R.S., Strasbourg, France

    M. Vergnes & A. Depaulis

  3. Service de Neurologie I, Hôpital Universitaire, 1 place de l’Hôpital, F-67091, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Dr. C. Marescaux

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  1. Dr. C. Marescaux
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  2. M. Vergnes
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  3. A. Depaulis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Clinique Neurologique, Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France

    Prof. Dr. C. Marescaux

  2. Centre de Neurochimie, C.N.R.S., Strasbourg, France

    Dr. M. Vergnes

  3. Pharma Division, Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland

    Dr. R. Bernasconi

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Marescaux, C., Vergnes, M., Depaulis, A. (1992). Genetic absence epilepsy in rats from Strasbourg — A review. In: Marescaux, C., Vergnes, M., Bernasconi, R. (eds) Generalized Non-Convulsive Epilepsy: Focus on GABA-B Receptors. Journal of Neural Transmission, vol 35. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-9206-1_4

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